Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation (한방재활의학과학회지)

The society of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation (한방재활의학과학회)
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A Scoping Review of Clinical Research on Acupotomy Interventions for Lumbar Disc Herniation in Korea

요추 추간판 탈출증에 대한 도침 치료 중재 국내 임상 연구 동향 주제범위 문헌고찰

  • Seong-Jae Yoo (Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Jin-Hyun Kim (Department of Oriental Neuropsychiatry, Bucheon Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicin) ;
  • Min-Ji Sun (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, Bucheon Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine) ;
  • Jeong-Won Heo (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, Bucheon Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine) ;
  • Jung-Hum Sun (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, Suwon Chamjalham Hospital of Korean Medicine) ;
  • Dong-Hyon Ha (Department of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation, Suwon Chamjalham Hospital of Korean Medicine) ;
  • Ja-Hyun Min (Department of Korean Internal Korean Medicine, Daejeon Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine) ;
  • Jae-Heung Cho (Department of Clinical Korean Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University)
  • 유성재 (경희대학교 대학원 임상한의학과) ;
  • 김진현 (부천자생한방병원 한방신경정신과) ;
  • 선민지 (부천자생한방병원 한방재활의학과) ;
  • 허정원 (부천자생한방병원 한방재활의학과) ;
  • 선정흠 (수원참잘함한방병원 한방재활의학과) ;
  • 하동현 (수원참잘함한방병원 한방재활의학과) ;
  • 민자현 (대전자생한방병원 한방내과) ;
  • 조재흥 (경희대학교 대학원 임상한의학과)
  • Received : 2025.09.17
  • Accepted : 2025.09.30
  • Published : 2025.10.31
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Abstract

Objectives This scoping review aimed to analyze the trends of clinical research on acupotomy for lumbar disc herniation (LDH) in Korea. The study sought to identify acupotomy intervention sites and assess the treatment's efficacy and safety, as well as the types of concomitant therapies used. Methods This review was conducted following the five-stage framework by Arksey and O'Malley and the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Four domestic databases (Research Information Sharing Service, Korean-studies Information Service System, ScienceON, and Korean Medicine database) were searched using terms such as 'acupotomy' and 'LDH'. The initial search yielded 65 papers. After the removal of duplicates and screening for relevance, a total of 15 clinical studies were selected for final analysis. Results A majority of the 15 included studies were non-comparative, consisting of six case reports and six case series, with only one randomized controlled trial and two non-randomized controlled trials. The most frequently used evaluation tools were the numeric rating scale and the Oswestry disability index, each utilized in 10 studies. Of the included papers, 13 used acupotomy in combination with other treatments, most commonly acupuncture, herbal medicine, and pharmacopuncture. No serious adverse events were reported in any of the studies. Conclusions Korean clinical studies on acupotomy for LDH show positive potential for pain and functional improvement. However, the current evidence base is limited by a predominance of low-level, non-comparative designs and the widespread use of combination therapies. Future research requires more rigorous study designs, such as randomized controlled trials, and standardized reporting of intervention protocols to establish robust clinical evidence.

Keywords

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